Red and Black (A Harlivy Story)

Chapter 20: Kitty

Selina knew something was wrong when she got a text from Harley. They hardly contacted each other in real life, let alone online; their only encounters being work related. She knew it was an emergency when she read the text:

Kitty! Come quick, it's Pammy.

Catwoman was hesitant to leave her kittens, but she couldn't let down her friends. That word was weird to her. Friends. She preferred a recluse life, but she was glad she got to know those two; they were family, even if they only met for heists now and again. It wasn't hard to find Ivy's lair, it was the only building with vines sprouting all around it, enclosing Ivy within. Although that was not the most surprising thing she saw; it was the beaten blonde that was half-asleep on the doorstep.

"Harley?", the woman said, jumping off the roof of a nearby building, "What are you doing out here?". As she got closer, she saw the full extent of her scars and bruises that blemished her bleached white skin.
"Jesus Harley, what did that guy do to you?"

"Nothin' 'kay, this isn't about me, it's about Red. She's been stuck in there for ages. I'm worried Kitty"

Selina sighed. The clown was the only thing they argued about. She didn't blame Ivy for getting angry, but it wasn't fully Harley's fault. He messed her up bad, he still is messing her up, yet Harley can't  seem to let go of him.

"Is this", she gestured towards the building enclosed in vines, "about him?"

Harley rubbed her hand on her neck and looked away from the woman; that was all Catwoman needed to know. Before leaving to find Ivy, she looked back at the blonde.

"You might not see this Harley, but there are people who love you. Truly love you. And Pamela, she cares about you a lot, much more than you will ever understand, and definitely more than the Joker does. But almost everyone in Gotham cares for you more than that clown..."

She left, climbing the vines with ease. Prying the plants apart, she found a window on the first floor of the building. Using her claws, she opened it, graciously sliding in to the dark room. She heard a faint sobbing sound coming downstairs. Following it, she found the woman curled in a ball on the floor. She walked cautiously, knowing the consequences of Ivy's rather unpredictable and interchangeable behaviour.

"Pamela?", she whispered, wiping the damp hair from the woman's face, "Ivy? It's Selin-"

She was suddenly interrupted by the cold hands that wrapped around her neck. Ivy started crying in the brunette's shoulder, too broken to feel embarrassment.

"I tried...I really tried Selina", the broken women stated between anguished breaths, "I don't know how....I can't help her"

Selina brushed Ivy's red hair in a bid to comfort the woman; a trick she learned when she aided her first pregnant cat.

"I know honey, I know"

"I can't...I can't do it anymore, it's too hard"

"Hey! Listen to me Ivy. I've known you for a long time and even thought we don't see eye to eye on some aspects and we don't meet that often, I can tell you care for Harley. Looking past this obsession with that clown, she cares for you too. If she didn't, she wouldn't have texted me or stayed".

Ivy sniffed and looked into the warm green eyes of her friend. She smiled, glad that Selina was there.

"And, I know that you love her" 

Ivy looked at her with wide eyes, unable to believe what she just said. She thought that it wasn't that obvious.

"W...wha-" Pamela stuttered

"Don't play dumb, Pamela. I see the way you look at her. The way you always pick up the pieces even after she hurts you. The way you care for her. Sure, I like the blonde and I wouldn't want anything or anyone to hurt her, but you. You love her."

Astounded by the truth, Pamela shuffled away from her, crossing her arms. Taking a defensive stance, she shook her head.

"I...I..." ,she glanced back at Selina, and sighed, giving in, "yes. I...love her"

"Ya do?" A high-pitched voice interrupted, causing both women in the room to jump up in surprise. Harley was standing on the top of the stairs, clutching her left-side where most of her pain was located.

"Harley? How did you...?", Selina asked. Noticing the mood of the room, she slowly walked towards the stairs, helping the blonde down. "I'm going to leave you two...don't go fighting each other while I'm gone"

Leaving, she glanced back to see the blonde and Ivy staring at each other; she knew that they would work things out, she always had an inkling for these sorts of things. Smiling, she swiftly jumped out the window to go back home, content in her advice.

If I didn't get into stealing, I think I would have made a great therapist or relationship advisor. She thought, gracefully prancing between different buildings.